His refusal to play during "garbage minutes" upset a few members of the team, who questioned his motives following the game. Rodney Hood suspiciously registered zero minutes.

But one of the Cavaliers' potential role players was conspicuously absent from the game. During a timeout, several players surrounded Hood to encourage him to enter the game, but he refused.

According to The Athletic's Jason Lloyd (subscription required to read), Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue tried to substitute Hood in for James with a 30-point lead with a little more than seven minutes to play. It was a great opportunity for a struggling youngster to try to find his rhythm without any pressure before the next series. However, the fourth-year player refused to enter the game, angering his teammates. It would have been Hood's first appearance in the game. Jose Calderon entered the game instead. The Cavaliers will reportedly not fine or suspend Hood for his actions.

"(Hood) is not built for (the playoffs)", an opposing executive texted Lloyd before the postseason began.

While Cleveland has gotten by without Hood and coasted past the Raptors, if Hood can give them some kind of secondary playmaking and 3-point shooting, that would give them another dynamic they desperately need in a potential NBA Finals matchup against Houston or Golden State.

Hood joined the team in February as a part of the Cavaliers massive shake-up just before the trade deadline. But the pending restricted free agent refused, despite the efforts of his teammates to "talk sense" into him. In 10 appearances, the 6-foot-8 swingman has averaged just 4.6 points per game - more than 6 points fewer than the 10.8 he averaged after being acquired by Cleveland from the Utah Jazz at the National Basketball Association trade deadline.